Pope Francis

Venice earned 975,000 euros ($1. 1 million) from ticket sales in the first 11 days after introducing a 5 euro entrance fee for day-trippers on the busiest days.

At least 78 people have died and more than 115,000 have been displaced by severe flooding caused by heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Swiss President Viola Amherd discussed the war in Ukraine and other conflicts with Pope Francis, who welcomed an invitation to attend the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland in June to discuss humanitarian issues, nuclear security, freedom of navigation and food security.

The number of flood victims in Kenya has risen to 181, and houses, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been destroyed across the region due to heavy rains and flooding since March, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Pope Francis made his first trip outside of Rome in 7 months, visiting Venice for a day, where he raised issues such as the war in Ukraine, called for negotiated peace and encouraged young people to help others.

Pope Francis urged pilgrims to pray for peace in war-torn Ukraine and the Middle East, deploring the deaths of young soldiers and the suffering caused by the conflicts.

Ukraine offered Russia to exchange prisoners of war who profess Islam and are Catholics in a ratio of 1 to 4 with the return of more Russian prisoners, but Russia refused this offer even after the Pope's call for a prisoner exchange.

Pope Francis honors memory of Ukrainian soldier killed near Avdiivka and calls to pray for those killed in the madness of war in Ukraine.

King Charles III made his first public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer, attending an Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, smiling and waving to well-wishers.

Pope Francis called for an end to wars, including in Ukraine, and expressed hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine.

Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession in Rome's Colosseum due to health problems and watched the event from home.

Pope Francis called to keep suffering Ukraine in our prayers amid intense hostile shelling of infrastructure, causing power outages and the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.

Pope Francis reiterated the need to make "every effort" to mediate and negotiate to end the "bloody conflicts" in Ukraine and Gaza.

Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican says that Pope Francis' visit to Ukraine will be an important signal to the world, but Ukraine cannot accept the symbol of a "white flag.

Pope Francis condemned all wars and called for a common prayer against the madness of war, without directly commenting on his previous controversial statement that Ukraine should raise a "white flag" for negotiations with the aggressor.

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav, conveyed a message of resilience and determination of Ukraine to never give up or kneel, despite the wounds and exhaustion of Russian aggression, spreading hope for victory around the world from New York.

The Vatican clarified that Russia must first stop its aggression in Ukraine as a condition for negotiations to end the war, emphasizing that stopping aggression is the responsibility of the aggressor, not the victim.

For Putin, a truce would be a way to catch his breath and restore the combat capability of his army, not real negotiations, Zelensky said, commenting on the Pope's proposal for talks.

Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson calls on Europe to persuade the United States to focus on Russia's war against Ukraine by increasing its own defense capabilities and aligning them with America's strategic interests, including the Chinese challenge.

Ukraine expressed its disappointment with Pope Francis' statement on the demonstration of the "white flag" and negotiations with Russia, the aggressor, emphasizing the need for a just peace based on the principles of the UN and the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

German Chancellor Scholz rejects Pope Francis' proposal for a "white flag" in the war in Ukraine, arguing that Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression with international support.

The Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has issued a statement rejecting Pope Francis' proposal to raise the white flag and negotiate with Russia, emphasizing that surrender means death for Ukrainians in view of Russia's genocidal intentions to destroy Ukrainian identity.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock expressed her misunderstanding of Pope Francis' call.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to Pope Francis' proposal to hold talks between Ukraine and russia under a "white flag," emphasizing that Ukrainians live, die and win under their blue and yellow flag, and urged the Pope not to repeat historical mistakes.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that in order to balance the situation, the Pope could call on russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, which would bring immediate peace without the need for negotiations.

Latvian President Edgards Rinkēvičs criticized Pope Francis' statement inviting Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, saying that "one cannot capitulate in the face of evil.

Pope Francis calls for talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, using the "white flag" as a symbol of a cessation of hostilities and a truce through diplomatic efforts toward a just and lasting peace.

Pope Francis calls on Ukraine to raise a white flag and negotiate with Russia to end the war, suggesting talks mediated by other countries such as Turkey, despite potentially legitimizing Russian aggression.

Experts say that Russia may have intercepted more conversations between German officers and officials and may have leaked them to influence public opinion in Germany and split Western allies over support for Ukraine.

Pope Francis was taken to a hospital in Rome for examination in connection with the flu.